Duplicate-whist box



(No Model.)

A. I-I. WOODWARD.

DUPLIGATE WHIST BOX.

N0. 521,302. Patented June 12, 1894.

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SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 521,302, dated June 12, 1894. Application filed March 27,1894. Serial No. 505,251. (No model.)

.To all whom t may, concern..-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H.WooDWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new ,and usefulImprovements in Duplicate-Whist Boxes, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-y Figure l is a perspective view of a box embodying my invention,with.the cover removed and the 'side iiaps turned down; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same taken transversely of the box on the line 2. 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a similar section taken lengthwise of the box on the line 3.3 of Fig. l; Fig. harperspective view of the box closed, with portions broken away at one corner; Fig. 5, a bottom plan showing a section of the box bottom; and Fig. 6, an elevation of one of the tapes fastened in a compartment, the casing of which is in section shown in dotted lines.

The figures of the drawings are all on the same scale except Fig. 6, which is slightly enlarged.

My invention relates to a box constructed to provide separate compartments or chambers for several packages, formed from a pack of cards in playing whist, and adapted for use in the game well known as duplicate whist.

The invention consists in a box about the size of a pack of cards, divided by a series of diaphragme or partitions into four compartments arranged in a vertical series and opening, two at the sides, and two at the ends of the box; and also in a device whereby the several hands or packages may be projected slightly from their respective compartments so as to be readily taken by the players; and also in some minor features in the construction of the box, which will appear in the detailed description.

rIhe object is to produce a small, compact holder for a pack of cards, divided so as to form a separate compartment for each of the four hands prepared for whist, which can be entirely closed up for preserving the pack of cards and for convenience of transportation, and which is adapted when uncovered for use inl the game of duplicate whist as usually played. A l

The construction and mode of Yusing the box will now Abe described in detail, and the para ticular improvements which I believe to be new and wish to secure by Letters Patent will thenbe pointed out more definitely in claims.

' In the drawings, A represents a box or case of rectangular shape and about the size of a pack ofordinary playing cards. This case is tal partitions or diaphragms, B, into four compartments or chambers vertically arranged and indicated in the drawings by Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4,'commencing with the bottom compartment. f v

The opposite sides ofthe box are designated bythe letters, a2, a3, and are also entire, except a long slot running the entire length of each, the slot, b, in the side, a2, being at the 4very lower edge of the latter and opening into the lower compartment 1, the width of the slot being the same as the depth of the compartment. In the opposite side, a3, there is provided a similar slot, b', but located one step above the first named slot, being just above the lowest partition and providing a full opening or entrance into the second compartment, 2, at the side of the box opposite to the opening into the first compartment, as seen in Fig. 2. The two upper compartments,3 and 4, are provided with similar openings at the respective ends of the box. For compartment No. 3 aV slot, b2, is provided inthe end, a4, of the box, this slot being just above the second partition extending across the end of the box and corresponding in width to the depth of the compartment, so as to provide a free opening into the'latter, the same as in the side slots. In the end, a5, ofthe box there is a corresponding slot, b5, arranged just above the upper partition and providing a free entrance or open\ ing into the upper compartment, 4, the same as the opening into No. 3 in the opposite end of the box, as described above and as seen in Fig. 3.

ICO

Each one of the compartments of the box is of such size as readily to receive a usual hand of whist, that is one-fourth of the pack of cards, and it is evident from the description above that these hands are readily placed in the respective compartments, two being inserted at the opposite side slots and the other two at the opposite end slots. The arrangement ot' the hands when thus placed within the box will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, in which they are designated by the letters, C, D, E and F, commencing at the bottom with C, in compartment 1. Now, it is obvious that the several hands are easily placed within their compartments, but they are not so easily taken out therefrom, and to facilitate this latter action a special device is provided. 'This device consists of a small tape, ribbon, or other small strip of fabric, fastened in each of the compartments and arranged in such manner that a slight outward pull upon the tape will force the card package in the compartment outward a little way, causing it to projecta little beyond the side or end of the case a short distance, when it can be readily taken by the player to whom it belongs. In the drawings the two tapes for the compartments having openings at the sides of the case are indicated by the letters G, G', the first for compartment 1, and the second for the next one above. The compartments opening out at the ends of the box are fitted with similar tapes, 1I and Il', the former in compartment 3 and the latter in compartment 4. One end of each of these tapes is secured to the base of its compartment at a point a little distance in front of the solid back of the compartmen t, in any suitable way. As shown in the drawings, this is effected by passing the end of the tape through a little slit in each base and about midway of the length or width of the compartment, according to the location of the opening thereto in eithera side or end of the box. This device for fastening the tape is particularly illustrated in Fig. 6, in which a single compartment is illustrated by dotted lines, and the base partition, B, is provided with a small slit or aperture, b4, a short distance from the back of the compartment. It will be seen that this Fig. G represents the compartment 2, by comparing it with Fig. 2 of the drawings. One end of the tape, G', for this compartment is passed down through this slit in the base and is pulled through far enough to make a short end section, g', which is laid along under the side of the partition, as seen in Fig. 6, and secured thereto by cement or any other suitable fastening. This permanently fastcns the inner end of the tape to the base of the compartment, and thence itis carried outward through the entrance to the compartment and left with a suitable length falling out therefrom, for a purpose to be presently described. The tape for each one of the compartments is secured therein in the same way. In Fig. 2 the tape, G, for

compartment 1, is fastened to the bottom in a like way by an end section, g, and in Fig. 3 the two upper tapes, II and Il', are shown similarly secured by means of end sections, h, 7L', fastened in like manner to the respective bases. The several divisions or hands of the pack of cards are slid into their respeot ive compartments underneath the respective tapes, and obviously in the latter portion of this movement they will carry the inner end of the tape back the short distance from its fastening point to about the back of the compartment, and thence the tape will pass up and over the cards and out at the opening, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Now, it is obvious that, when thus packed in the box, a slight pull on the tape will drive the package of cards in the compartment outward a distance equal to the length of the back fold of the tape just described, thereby causing the cards to project slightly from the opening of the compartment. This is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which the several hands of cards are shown in dotted lines slightly projected from the openings of the respective compartments. The several tapes are brought up outside of the case over and upon the top of the latter and there tied together, or otherwise suitably joined, near the center of the box, and the preferable arrangement is to make the tapes of such length that when the several divisions of cards are inserted in their respectivo compartments, as described above, the knot or point of junction of the several tapes will lie practically fiat upon the ease top, as seen in Fig. 1. Then upon lifting this knot the outer ends of all of the tapes will be raised,l

as seen in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, thereby bringing a strain upon the tapes which will force the cards outward, as already explained. These are little details of construction, however, which may be varied in many ways.

It is, of course, desirable to protect the cards when packed in the ease, as described, when not in use and for transportation. The means shown in the drawings for this pur pose consists of two flaps or wings, I, flexibly connected at one edge along the bottom of the case at the respective sides thereof, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. These flaps are about as wide as the case sides, so that when turned up against the latter, as seen in Fig. Ll, they will prevent the cards from slipping out at the side openings, which are the two lower ones. These iiaps are secured in upright folded position by a box cover, J, which is applied to the top of the case and fits down over the side flaps, holding them in position by its side flanges, j, while its end iiangeaj, will pass down over the end openings, and so prevent the cards from slipping out therefrom. This arrangement of the closed package is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, some of the parts being broken away a little at one corner to show their arrangement and function. This particular IOO IIO

way of securely closing the box and securing the cards within is not an essential and may be modified in various Ways; thefianges of the cover may be deep .enough to pass down to the bottom of the case or nearly so, in which case it is obvious the side iaps may be dispensed with.

The boxes are, of course, provided with some suitable marks indicating the leading end or side, as is required in duplicate whist. Though this is no part of the present invention, I have shown these indications in the form of hand, K, atone side of the case, Fig. 1, which, of course, will indicate'the leading side. These boxes are intended for use in sets like all card holders designed for duplicate whist and so must be numbered respectively; for convenience I place these numbers on the bottom of the box, as indicated in Fig. 5, in which a bottom of a box is shown bearing the Figure I, indicating that it is the Iirst box of the series. Stars, L, indicate first position by setting this starred end toward some fixed point.

In use for play the box is placed upon the table, the'cover removed and the side flaps turned down, as seen in Fig. l. The tapes are then drawn upward, when the several divisions of cards will be thrust outward a little distance at the openings of their respective compartments, as already yexplained and as indicated in Fig. l, when, of course, each player takes his hand from the case, the latter being arranged properly with the star end pointing to the leader. The whist game is then played through with the series of boxes and then repeated with a change in the position of the lead end of the boxes as required in the usual game of duplicate whist.

There is thus provided a small, compact case within which the cards may be entirely inclosed by a cover for preservation and transportation, while this case is also adapted for use as a holder in playing the game of duplicate whist. Obviously the box is so small that it is very convenient for packing for the purposes of transportation and also for de- 'posit anywhere about the house for temporary keeping. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a duplicate whist box, a closed rect` angular case, corresponding substantially to a pack of cards i-n shape and size and divided into four interior compartments, arranged one above the other and each provided with a single opening, one in each side and one in each end of the case, the said openings being arrangedin opposite sides and opposite ends respectively of the case, whereby the said case is adapted to receive and retain the four hands' of cards in the respective compartments, substantially as described.

2. In a duplicate whist box, a closed rectangular case adapted in shape and size to inclose a pack of cards and divided into four interior compartments, arranged one above the other and each opening in opposite sides and ends of the case and respectively adapted to receive the respective hands of the pack, and a device applied to each compartment whereby the hand therein may be projected a slight distance out through the opening, substantially as described.

3. In a duplicate whist box, a rectangular closed case, A, provided with slots, h, b', running lengthwise of the sides and arranged on different planes, and similar slits, b2, h3, running across the respective ends and arranged in different planes, in combination with horizontal partitions, B, arranged within the case to divide the latter into four equal compartments and corresponding to the said respective slots, and tapes, G and G', secured respectively at one end to the base of each compartment and a little distance in frontV of the back kwall thereof and extending thence out through the opening at the front, substantially as described.

4. In a duplicate whist box, a closed rectangular case, A, provided with side slots, b, h3, arranged as described, in combination with horizontal partitions, B, arranged one above the other to divide the interior of the case into four equal compartments corresponding to the respective slots, and a hanged cover adapted to be placed upon the top of the case and pass down at the sides and ends thereof, substantially as described.

' 5. In a duplicate whist box, a closed rectangular case, A, provided with side slots, b', t', and end slots, b2, h3, arranged as described, horizontal interior partitions, B, side wings or aps, I, iiexibly attached to the lower edges of the case at the sides thereof, anda hanged. cover, J, substantially as described.

ARTHUR H. WOODWARD.

Witnesses:

LE O'rrn LEIB, WM. M. MOORE.

provided with a single 

